John Hammond: The Examination and Confession of John Hammond 4 November 1704

Westmorld Ss. The Examination and Confession of John Hamond of Preston in the County of York taken upon Oath before James Grahm of Levens Esquire &c.^tt this 4.^th day of November 1704.

Who upon his Oath informeth and saith that Francis Lodge Sen^r. & Francis Lodge jun^r. of Walborn Hall in the County of York do follow the calling & trade of covering and plateing New-mony, and that the last year being 1703 five weeks before Michaelmas they gave me 16.^£ of Counterfeit Money, to dispose and disperse, where I could best vend it, and that they would give me 1.^s per pound for vending and disposing it, and that I paid Some of it to Abram Goodgion Receiver of the Queens Revenues, and Some of it was Cutt and with the rest I bought 2. Stotts of William Wetherill of Bellarby, & in payment I gave him 20.^s above the Market price, for takeing Counterfeit money he knowing it to be such.   Hee further deposeth that with what remained he bought Beasts of Robert Pearson of Bellarby aforesaid and in payment I have him 15.^d above the Market price, for takeing counterfeit money he knowing it to be Such.    Hee further deposeth that Ralph Metcalfe of Preston in Wensedale Weaver in the County of York hath Severall times given him five pounds and Severall Sum̄es of Counterfeit money, he knowing it to be such to disperse and dispose off where I could best vend it.      And that I have seen Francis Lodge the Elder & Younger coyn and cover New money in their West Parlour at Walburn Hall and that they lay'd their Tooles in a little Trunk under a bed, in the Same Roome, and that they melt in a Chamber over the great Hall, in a little Iron pain with a pair of Hand Bellows. And this Deponent further sayes that he has seen the Said two Lodges Coyn, Cover & Stamp new moneys one hundred times. And that he has seen Ralph Metcalfe of Preston aforesaid coyn cover & Stamp twenty times, And that I see him within a week past, coyn cover and Stamp new money in his own house, and his tooles lyes in a milk house under a dresser

This Deponent further saith that he see the 2. Lodges aforesaid coyn cover and Stamp new money in a Chamber over the great hall, to the sum̄e of 100.^£ by tale, on the 3.^d day of Septemb last, and they paid me 12.^£ of it, giveing me 1.^s per pound to disperse, and dispose of it where I could best vend it. And that Rob.^t Sturrey, Henry Janson Farmers of Bolton under the Duke of Bolton did disperse and dispose of above 80.^£ of the same knowing it to be Counterfeit money.      This Deponent further says that Gyles Ellerton of Cawdstorms house in the parish of Downholm in the County of York doth Cover Coyn and Stamp new money, and that he hath Seen him do the same, And that I have Dispersed severall sum̄s for him, particularly to Tho^s Robinson of West Witton in Wensley parish Skimmer, and to John Tirry near Bolton Hall Taylor, & to Matthew Reynoldson of Preston aforesaid all within the County of York, they knowing it to be Counterfeit money took it, to disperse & dispose of it were they could best vend it.      This Deponent says he doth not know of any more men in that part, which does Coyn cover and Stamp New Money.     And this Deponent further sayes that Marmaduke Robinson near Middleton, in the County of Westmorland doth coyn, cover, Stamp and plate new money which I have Seen him <1v> doe in a back parlour in his own house to the vallue of One hundred pounds and Upwards. This Deponent further sayes that the Silver found about him was given him by Mathew Beaper of Preston aforesaid to be vended by me in Westmorland, and to carry it to M^r - Dixon Inkeeper of Barebon to disperse and dispose of it, to the best End for Malt who has received 20.^d of me before, on the 24.^th day of August last, which Money he did dispose off and dispersed and Accounted to me for the same, which false Mony the said Mathew Beaper did coyn Stamp cover in my presence and that M^r Dixon did know the same to be counterfeit money And further saith upon his Oath that the Gold that was found about me was given me by M^r Thomas Lambert of Bainbridge in Wesedale in the parish of Askrigg in the County of York, which I was to carry to John Fort of Gargrave in Craven in the said County which was to buy Sheep withall and other Goods it being all Counterfeit Gold, and given for Such by the Said M^r Lambert, he promising me 1.^£ in the Guinea for Vending it, haveing severall times vended such money for the Said M^r Lambert before. he haveing imploy'd me for severall years, And that I have seen him Stamp and cover Gold severall times, at his own house in Bainbridge in the East Parlour, Laying his Tooles and Stamps under a pair of staires in a little Coffers, I seeing him coyne One hundred Guineas on the Sixth day of October last past. And further saith that Mathew Hamond of Preston aforesaid did give me 20.^£ of Counterfeit money to disperse and dispose of where I could best vend it. I brought it and paid it to M^r Hardy of Casterton near Kirkby Lonsdale, he took it as counterfeit Money to buy sheep and he had one shulling in the Pound for vending it.

This Deponent further saith that Thomas Loftus and Thomas Ham̄ond liveing at Middlesmore in Yorkshire gave him 40.^£ knowing it to be counterfeit money to carry to John Foster of Askrigg aforesaid Storkiner which he received from me on the 5.^th day of May last he knowing it to be Counterfeit money, and he was to have 1.^s in the Pound for uttering of it, which accordingly he did. This Deponent further saith that Christopher Buckle of Preston in the County of York did give unto me John Hamond Sixty pounds of Counterfeit money upon the 19.^th of October last, to carry into Westmorland to one Edm.^o Didgson near Casterton Malster in the parish of Kirkby Lonsdale, to buy Barley withall, which money I gave unto his own hands at his own house on the Second Instant (none being p^resent but his wife) which money he was to Disperse knowing it to be counterfeit money, and for the disposing whereof he was to have one Shilling in the pound. I have seen the Said Christoper Buckle and Elizabeth his daughter, coyn Stamp and Cover, Severall great sum̄s of Money (which he this Deponent has dispersed for him) in his East Parlour, lying his Tools in an Old Hopper in dark Chamber over his fire house.

Att another time he sent by me to one Mathew King liveing in Mount Park in the parish of Wensley in Yorkshire 20.^£ of Counterfeit money which he received as Such knowingly on the 7.^th of Nov.^er 1703. for the dispersing whereof he was to have 1.^s per pound which was to buy Sheep which is all this Deponent has to Say                         John ham̄ond Capt. et jurat &c.^t coram me J Grahm.